Giving myself a birthday present by Megan Hart

Hello, everyone! Today is a special day for me, because it’s my birthday. And I don’t know about any of you, but I celebrate my birthday like…well…like it’s the day I came into the world! Because if that’s not a reason to be joyful, I don’t know what is.

I’m a big believer in presents, too. One of the presents I try to give myself every year is to schedule my deadlines so that I can have enough time “off” to write something just for me. Or to try something new. The best part is when something I’m writing something new is also something I’m writing for the love of it!

I enjoy writing in different genres, lengths and even styles, while at the same time, I believe that no matter what I’m writing, my voice remains the same. Whether I’m writing full-length erotic fiction or short horror, my approach to story telling and characterization doesn’t change. Within the framework of my specific tone and voice and the themes I tend to visit, I still try to find stories that are different and tell them in ways that keep the work exciting for me (and, I hope, for readers, too!)

One of the treats I’m giving myself this year is to work on a sequel to a short paranormal story I wrote last year called Ride with the Devil. The sequel, Dance with the Devil, picks up in the point of view of the first story’s non POV character and takes her story along a different journey. I’m not sure where it’s going yet, but the dance is delightful.

I’ve also ventured in serial writing. Digital serials, published at regular intervals, each piece telling a portion of the story but all of them together maintaining an overall story arc. My first venture into serial writing was with my horror serial, The Resurrected. A mixture of horror, science fiction and a little bit of romance, it features ten pieces that follow multiple characters and viewpoints through the events of a world gone to pieces in the aftermath of series of weird storms that turns people into the undead.

I also visited serialized storytelling in my current release, Every Part of You, which features five short pieces released two weeks apart. Unlike The Resurrected, which features many characters in their own storylines, Every Part of You is an erotic romance about Simone and Elliott, who discover they have more in common than either of them first believes.

So what’s next for me, this year? What new thing do I hope to try as a treat to myself? Well, I have some YA science fiction burning a hole in my brain, and I’m eager to give that a go! After all, the best part of writing is the ability to tell the stories that won’t stay quiet.

As a Happy Birthday celebration, I’m giving away gifts! Please comment here with what sorts of different stories you’ve tried – whether they worked for you or didn’t. I’ll be giving away a digital copy of the Resurrected Compendium (which includes all ten parts in one volume), Ride with the Devil or part one of Every Part of You(Tempts Me) Because of the digital nature of the giveaway, winners must be able to access Amazon, iTunes, Barnes and Noble in the US.

Thanks, everyone!

***Megan's winner is Mary Ann Milkowski!  Please email totebag@authorsoundrelations.com with your details!***